In making the bold decision to host his Balenciaga show at 8 p.m. in lieu of the 9 a.m. time slot the brand has occupied for more than a decade, Alexander Wang also moved the outing's venue from the Observatoire de Paris to the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. To reflect the change of energy of the show, a black tent was erected over the empty fountain behind the Palais de Tokyo. The underlit runway became a clear grid reinterpretation of a classical French-tiled floor, with swirling vapors of dry ice visible underneath, complementing the after-dark vibe of the show. OBO co-produced the show with Prodject.
Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga
The Dries Van Noten show, held on September 24 at the Grand Palais, featured a runway-cum-carpet hand-tufted by the Buenos Aires-based artist Alexandra Kehayoglou. With a collection inspired by the magical woodland in John Everett Millais's painting "Ophelia," dusky golden lighting complemented the mossy forest floor that will be reused for events around the world.
Photo: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten
The venue's lower level was set up with a maze of angular black seating. Guests found their seats thanks to paths illuminated by diagonal spotlights. On a series of glass screens were projections of multiethnic young faces that delivered a chorus of words once the lights went off and the walls were lit.
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
